Criminal Law

Defend clients and represent the state while learning the historical foundation of the law

"The criminal law program at Moritz is in a league of its own. By the time I was a second-year student, I had already met and spoken with almost the entire criminal law faculty, which is telling of their accessibility and willingness to be mentors. Not only is the criminal law curriculum at Moritz extensive in its choices, but it caters to almost every student's interest within the field of criminal law.

Moritz criminal law professors' dedication to teaching and students are their first priorities. Professors like Ric Simmons and Michelle Alexander go above and beyond their roles as professors and are enthusiastic mentors to their students.

My interaction with the criminal law faculty at Moritz, the criminal law journal, criminal law curriculum, and leading the ACLU and Immigration Law Society are among the many experiences that continue to help facilitate my career path and pursuit of my professional goals.”

Anjali Nadig
3L
Westlake, OH

Ohio State boasts one of the nation’s preeminent criminal law programs. Accordingly, Moritz
students considering a criminal practice have numerous opportunities to learn about every
aspect of the criminal justice system.

Students can choose from an upperlevel criminal law course offering that ranks among the most comprehensive in the United States. In addition, they'll learn from some of the leading experts in criminal justice from around the country. Moritz professors have argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, clerked for Supreme Court justices, and have worked at some of the most prestigious firms and prosecutors' offices. Professor Joshua Dressler is one of the country's most respected authorities on criminal law and criminal procedure. His casebook on criminal law is now used by professors in more than half of all American law schools. Professor Douglas A. Berman is one of the country's leading experts in sentencing law. Repeatedly called upon to testify before the U.S. Congress, Berman has lately become recognized for his preeminent sentencing blog, Sentencing Law and Policy.

J.D. students may be invited to join the Ohio State Journal on Criminal Law, a leading journal that is published semiannually. The journal, through its symposium, commentary, and book and cultural review sections, provides useful and serious, but also interesting and provocative, discourse on critical issues in the field of criminal justice.

In Moritz's clinical programs, J.D. students have the opportunity to represent clients in area courts. The Criminal Defense Clinic assigns students to represent adult defendants in misdemeanor cases pending in Franklin County Municipal Court. Outside the classroom, students prepare cases and present them in court or obtain a satisfactory out-of-court resolution. Students regularly appear in local courts, learn how to prepare witnesses, negotiate plea bargains, and try criminal cases.

The Prosecution Clinic provides students with the exciting opportunity to represent the state of Ohio in the prosecution of criminal law cases. Under the supervision of licensed clinical faculty, students take responsibility for prosecuting a wide range of criminal cases, from theft and drunken driving to drug possession and domestic violence. Students handle their own cases, interviewing victims and other witnesses, negotiating plea bargains with defense attorneys, and conducting hearings and jury trials.

The Ohio State University | Michael E. Moritz College of Law | 55 West 12th Avenue | Columbus, OH 43210-1391 | (614) 292-2631If you have trouble accessing this page or need to request an alternate format, please email the Moritz Law Webmaster PDF files in this site require Adobe Reader to view (link opens in NEW window) | View Site Map